Brake releasing mechanism



April 8,1941. L. A. DARSEY 2,237,587

BRAKE RELEASING MECHANISM Filed July 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 8, 1941- A. DARSEY v2,237,587

BRAKE RELEASING MECHANISM Filed July s, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 Ir/QZZQ.

atented Apr. 8, 1941 BRAKE RELESING MECHANISM Lowndes A. Darsey, Sebring, Fla., assigner of onehalf to George T. Whitehouse, Sebring, Fla.

Application July 8, 1940, Serial No. 344,420

'7 Claims.

Ilfhis invention relates to a brake releasing mechanism for motor vehicles, and more particularly to novel means for automatically releasing the hand brake of automobiles upon engagement of the clutch. y

An object of this invention is to provide an automatic hand brake releasing means which optionally will permit clutch engagement Without release of the brake when so desired so that the driver may leave the car standing on an incline with the engine running.

Another object of this invention is to make it impossible for a motorist to drive an automobile with the hand brake engaged or partially engaged so as to damage or destroy brake linings.

A still further object of this invention is to prevent a car from rolling backwardly or forwardly without the use of the foot brakes when stopped on a grade by enabling motorists to 'set the hand brake which subsequently is automatically released on engagement of the clutch in starting up again in either direction.

llt is a further object of this invention to provide automatic hand brake releasing means which is operated by the vacuum existing in the intake manifold of a running automobile engine.

This invention also contemplates automatic hand brake releasing menas which is comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, re-

liable in operation, and which may be manufacvalve in position secured by a bracket to the steering column and the trip mechanism therefor attached to the clutch pedal;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the valve supporting bracket mounted on the steering column;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the details of the trip lever and bracket mounted on the clutch pedal which is shown in cross-section; Fig. 'Zfis a cross-section view of a modified form of cylindrical casing and vacuum cup trigger operating mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the trigger release operating mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

On further reference to the drawings, it will be seen that numeral I indicates a cylindrical casing which is readily detachable from annular cover plate 2 and contains vacuum cup 3 of rubber or the like clamped between the open edge of the casing I and the cover plate 2 and having imbedded or formed therein guide pin 4 in registry with and extending through opening 5 of the cylinder I. Numeral 6 denotes an internally threaded opening formed in the bottom 2 of cylindrical casing I and adapted to receive the externally threaded end of vacuum pipe 'I which connects the cylindrical casing I with a rotating plug valve 8 and intake manifold 9.

Secured to cylindrical casing I is a U-shaped clamp I0 containing bolt Il and wing nut I2 for adjustably securing the casing to the handle of a conventional hand brake lever I3 of the type that Iincludes a trigger I4 for releasing the brake handle which assumes its release or forward position under the actionof the usual spring and draft rod I 5.

Centrally located in bottom 2 of casing I is an opening through which extends plunger IB, having a stop abutment or head I l.

By means of a bracket I8 there is secured to the clutch pedal I9 a trip arm 20, having its angular position adjustable with respect to bracket IB by means of a clamp connection 2I. 'Ihe outer end of arm 20 is bent at right angles to itself and supports a pivoted latch or trip member 22 lying parallel tothe right angle portion. This trip member is secured to the arm end 20 by means of a nut and bolt 3|' that also carries a spring 3| hooked over the pivoted latch to normally hold it in contact with the arm 20. A second bracket 23 is secured by set screw 24 to the shown, the control valve 3 may lie parallel` to steering column 25 by suitably forming supporting bracket 23 and this permits the valve 8 and bracket 23 to be assembled as a unit before installation.

As shown in Fig. 4, the vacuum line 'I leading from the intake manifold 9 is closed when the control valve operating arm 2B affixed to the valve plug is in the position shown by full lines, while the section of the vacuum line 'I leading from valve B to cylinder I is vented to the atmosphere. However, when valve operating arm 26 is moved to the position shown by the dotted lines, the

vacuum in the intake manifold 9 is directly connected to cylinder I and the suction therefrom acts to collapse vacuum cup 3. thus forcing plunger I3 to the left, as seen in Fig. 7, to bear against trigger Il of the brake handle.

Movement oi' arm 28 in its upward travel when piston or diaphragm element 32 mounted in oylindrical casing 33. The diaphragm 32 has a backing plate 3l and the peripheral edge is clamped' between the cylinder head 35 and the cylinder 36. An operating rod 31 secured to piston 3l passes through opening 38 in the bottom \cylinder wall to strike the hand brake trigger I4 when vacuum is admitted into the vacuum line 1. A vent opening 39 is provided in the cylinder head to allow free flexing of the diaphragm.

If either the piston element 3| or the vacuum cup 3 becomes damaged in any way, it may be replaced at low cost by simply removing the cover of cylindrical casing I and inserting the new part. When the cover is replaced, vacuum cup 3 is iirmly held against the bottom of the cylindrical casing so as to readily collapse when a vacuum commences to form therein.

'I'he operation of the invention will now be described. In Fig. 4 the engaged position of clutch pedal I 9 is shown in full lines. Assume now that the automobile is to be stopped with the engine running. In order to shift gears, it will be necessary to depress clutch pedal Il to its dotted line position. the trip armI 22 will strike valve controlling arm 2l, but will pivot about bolt 2i, thus permitting trip arm 23 to pass by the lower position of valve arm 2l and* come to rest immediately thereunder, trip arm 22 resuming its normal position against trip am 2li.

On movement of the clutch pedal I9 to its full line or engaged position, trip arm 22 immediately engages valve controlling arm 26', raising it to its dotted line position at which time it slips oil? triparm 22 and returns toits full line position by gravity. This upward motion of valve controlling arm 23 opens the valve and connects intake manifold" 3 by means of vacuum pipe 1 to the diaphragm 3l or the underside of vacuum cup 3 to project trigger rods I6 or 34 to release hand brake I 3, which will obviously assume its forward or release position under the action of the spring and draft rod or wire with which all hand brakes of this type are provided.

Thus, it will be seen that immediately before clutch pedal I9 reaches its full line or engaged position, hand brake I3 .will be automatically released, preventing a motorist from driving with the'brake engaged or partially so, and saving wear and tear on the car and its various parts;

This invention also enables the driver to use his hand brake to hold his car, while stopping on an incline without encountering the usual danger of stalling on starting up again. The driver merely puts the engine in gear, steps on the accelerator, engages the clutch in the Wal manner and starts forward without danger of rolling backward as the hand brake remains on until immediately before engagement of the clutch as herein'before explained.

Another important advantage of the invention is that the driver of a car so-equipped may leave his car standing on an incline unattended and with the motor running, if he so desires. To do this, the' gear is put in neutral, the hand brake is held on and the clutch is then engaged. It will be obvious in this connection that through the automatic releasing means, the brake is manually restrained from assuming its release or oi position.

1t will be obvious that the positions of valve controlling arm 26 and trip arm 20 may be adi with respect to each other so as to secure satisfactory operation with regard to the actual point oi' engagement of the clutch. For example, bracket B8 and supporting arm 20 may be moved toward arm 2S so as to strike it very close to the valve in order that the valve is fully open when Y arm 2@ carrying trip arm 22 has traveled only a short distance in its upward course.

Having now described one preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that ch :1. 'ft es in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement, of parts may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A brake releasing apparatus for motor vehicles having an intake manifold and a trigger released hand set brake comprising vacuum operated means mounted to operate the'trigger of said brake, a valve, a pipe connecting said manifold with said valve and said means, a trip arm mounted on said valve, a clutch pedal, a second trip arm secured thereto and cooperating with said' iirst trip arm to open said valve and effect 1 the release of said brake trigger.

As the pedal is depressed,

2. In a brake releasing apparatus for motor vehicleala hand brake including a -trigger therefor, a cylinder mounted on said hand brake, a vacuum cup in said cylinder and connected to said trigger, an intake manifold, a valve, a pipe connecting said manifold with said valve and said cylinder, a trip arm mounted on said valve, a clutch pedal, a second trip arm secured thereto and cooperating with said first arm to open said valve and eii'ect operation oi' said trigger when said clutch pedal is in its'clutch engaging movement.

3. A brake releasing apparatus for motor vehicles having an intakemanifold and including a hand brake and a trigger release therefor, a cyl-yy inder, a piston connected to said trigger and mounted in said cylinderfa valve. a trip arm connected thereto. a pipe connecting said intake manifold with said valve and said cylinder, a clutch pedal, a trip arm connected thereto and cooperating with said ilrst mentioned trip arm to open said valve to permit suction to collapse said piston to effect release of said brake trigger.

4. A brake releasing apparatus for motor vehicles including a steering column, a hand set lbrake and a trigger therefor and comprising a vacuum operated means connected to said trigger, a valve, a trip arm pivotally secured theretachably connected to said steering column, saidV bracket including stop means for limiting movement of said first mentioned trip arm.y

5. An automobile hand brake releasing mech-A anisrn comprising a hand set brake therefor having a trigger released pawl, a vacuum cylinder mounted on said hand brake, said cylinder being provided with a piston adapted to be pro- 4jeeted to strike said brake trigger when vacuum is applied to said cylinder, a pipe leading from the said cylinder to a `source of vacuum, a valve in said pipeline and an actuator for said valve, said actuator comprising an arm secured to the valve, and arranged to be moved into open position by the clutch pedal of the automobile in its clutch engaging movement.

6. A brake release of the character set forth in claim 5, wherein a pivoted arm is secured to the foot clutch pedal arm in such a manner as to pass by the said valve actuator arm Without operating the same when the said pedal arm is depressed and to engage the said valve actuator arm when the pedal arm is moved upwardly.

7. A brake release of the character set forth in claim 5, wherein a pivoted arm is adjustably secured to the foot clutch pedal arm in such a manner as to pass by said valve actuator arm without operating the same when said pedal' arm is depressed and to engage said Valve actuator arm when the pedal arm is moved upwardly, `the angular position of said pivoted arm being ad- ,instable with respect to said foot clutch pedal arm to vary the time of engagement of said valve actuator arm by said pivoted arm.

LOWNDES A. DARSEY. 

